Just before 4:00 p.m. today, Friday, February 1st, Senator John Kerry was sworn in as America’s 68th Secretary of State. The oath was administered by Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan in the hearing room of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, which the Senator had chaired.

John Kerry takes his oath of office on a bible held by his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry.

Secretary Kerry was born in Aurora, Colorado and educated at Yale University. He served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War, was decorated several times, and became a prominent anti-war activist upon his return from Vietnam. After graduating from Boston College Law School, he worked as a prosecutor in the Boston area, and then in his own private law practice. He was elected Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts in 1982 and as one of that State’s U.S. Senators in 1984, a position he has held for the past 28 years. In 2004 he was the Democratic nominee for President of the United States.

Secretary Kerry joins a long line of chief American diplomats marked from the iconic Thomas Jefferson, who served as the United States’ first Secretary of State years before becoming President. (John Jay, America’s first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, served as Acting Secretary for several months before Jefferson was sworn.) The esteemed roster of Secretaries of State also includes several other future Presidents including James Madison and James Monroe … legendary orators such as Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, and William Jennings Bryant … five Nobel Peace Prize laureates including Cordell Hull …

Secretary of State John Kerry.

… grand strategists such as George Marshall, Dean Acheson, John Foster Dulles, Henry Kissinger, and James Baker … the first female Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright … the first African American Secretary of State, Colin Powell … and of course former First Lady and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Our new Secretary is no stranger to diplomacy. His father was a Foreign Service Officer and held posts abroad. He himself served for years as chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. (I was honored by his presence at my own confirmation hearing 4 years ago, in the room in which he was sworn into office today.)

As Secretary Clinton stated as she left the Department, “John Kerry brings judgment, experience, vision, and a deep understanding of what diplomacy and development require. He’ll be an excellent Secretary of State.”

Secretary Kerry is well-known for his commitment to environmental protection, education, free trade, and expansive international engagement. He worked on acid rain issues as Lieutenant Governor early in his career, and he is committed to addressing the grave risks posed by climate change. He has a firmly held, nuanced vision of America’s place in the world developed over a lifetime of service at home and abroad.

As he left the Capitol after being sworn, the Secretary told the assembled media that he was honored to have been nominated and confirmed, and that he is anxious to get to work. Welcome to Foggy Bottom, Secretary Kerry.

Each November the U.S. Marine Corps marks the anniversary of its founding with birthday celebrations wherever Marines are stationed around the world. Earlier this month I had the great honor of attending my third Marine Ball as Ambassador.

The birthday cake.

Here in Wellington more than 200 guests assembled for cocktails, dinner, and dancing. A brief formal program included a video message from Washington, the posting of the colors, a ceremonial cutting of the birthday cake, and remarks by our special guest speaker, Major General Ronald L. Bailey, Commanding General of the First Marine Division, of Camp Pendleton, California.

The General’s unit has a special relationship with New Zealand. The Marines who first marched off the USS Wakefield onto King’s Wharf in Wellington on June 14, 1942, were from the First Marine Division. General Bailey himself was last in New Zealand just a few months ago to participate in our celebration of the 70th anniversary of that arrival and the launch of formal U.S.-N.Z. diplomatic relations.

Major General Bailey addresses guests at the Ball.

I also spoke briefly to remind guests of the Corps’ long history and of the great service that Marines provide each day to American diplomats around the world. I traced the origins of the Corps back to October 5, 1775, when the Continental Congress of revolutionary American colonists instructed recently commissioned General George Washington to employ and staff vessels to defend against the Crown.

A month later, in November 1775, Continental Congress president John Hancock  commissioned Samuel Nicholas, a Philadelphia innkeeper, as Captain of the Marines. The formal birth of the Corps is considered to be November 10, 1775, when the Continental Congress specifically resolved that two battalions of Marines should be raised. (That makes the Corps older than the American Nation itself.) Using Tun Tavern in Philadelphia as his recruiting station, Captain Nicholas proceeded to fulfill that charge.

I talk a bit about history.

On January 4, 1776, Captain Nicholas and 200 of his recruits sailed from Philadelphia on the Alfred to engage a British garrison in the Bahamas that had been conducting raids against the colonists. On March 3, 1776, the Marines made their first amphibious landing, occupying Nassau and capturing much needed gunpowder and other stores. On April 6, 1776, the Marines engaged in their first naval battle when the American squadron engaged HMS Glasgow.

Since then, the Marine Corps has distinguished itself in legendary battles such as the Christmas 1776 campaign at Princeton (where Marines first died in combat), Barbary Coast, Mexico City, Belleau Wood, Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Tarawa, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Chosen Reservoir, and Khe Sanh. Although far less well-known, the Marines even fought in my hometown during the 1846 seige of Los Angeles.

In Marine tradition the first slice of cake goes to the guest of honor, then to the oldest Marine present (whether active or retired), and then to the youngest Marine. Here, our Gunny Sgt. presents the slice to our youngest Marine.

The Marines have a long history of working with the State Department, guarding missions, serving as couriers, and protecting Americans in unsettled locales since the early days of the American Nation. In December 1948, the Secretary of the Navy and Secretary of State formally established the Marine Security Guard Program and deployed 83 Marines to protect American Embassies overseas.

Today there are more than 1,000 Marines deployed in approximately 150 Marine Security Guard detachments at American Embassies and Consulates around the world. These Marines protect our facilities against attack, assist with evacuations during times of crisis, and insure that civilian diplomats are able to continue their important work. Since 1968, eleven Marine Security Guards have been killed defending the diplomatic missions at which they were stationed.

To commemorate that strong history of collaboration and service, each year the Secretary of State issues a statement on the anniversary of the founding of the Marine Corps. At our Marine Ball here in Wellington this month I read the following words of appreciation and congratulation from Secretary Clinton:

* * *

Statement by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
Department of State
November 2012

On behalf of the entire Department of State family, I am honored to extend my warmest congratulations and best wishes to you, the brave men and women of the U.S. Marine Corps, on the Corps’ 237th birthday.  

“In every clime and place,” Marines have repeatedly demonstrated their valor and dedication to service; many have given the last full measure of devotion in defense of our liberty and freedom.  To every Marine – those currently in uniform and those who have proudly worn it in the past – we thank you for your sacrifices, your courage, and your service to this country we all love.

Embassy Wellington Marines present the colors.

This celebration provides all of us in the Department of State a special opportunity to acknowledge and thank all of the Marines who are serving and have served alongside our diplomatic personnel around the world.

The Marine security guards in our embassies, consulates, and missions play a vital role in providing internal security to our facilities and vigilance over classified government information and equipment.  

These Marines do not just stand at “Post One” – they stand for the United States. In my travels, I have met many of our Marine security guards, and I am ceaselessly impressed by the manner in which they represent our country.  

We are likewise grateful to the many other Marines who even now are detailed to protect our facilities and personnel in volatile regions.  For those you protect, it is a comfort to them to know that you are standing post, enhancing their safety and security, and enabling the vital work of our diplomatic and development professionals in a dangerous world.

Our Marine friends and colleagues have met unique challenges in supporting the Department, and they have —without exception – responded bravely and effectively. They have responded to natural disasters, civil unrest, and violent attacks.  They have defended the integrity of our facilities and worked courageously to save human life.  

I want to commend specifically the actions of Marines during recent incidents at our facilities throughout the world.  Despite the dangers, their actions directly contributed to the safety of U.S. government personnel at these embassies, proving once again that every Marine lives the Corps’ credo, “Semper Fidelis” – always faithful.

I join the entire State Department family, and indeed the entire country, in thanking all Marines, and especially those who have served and continue to serve side by side with the Department abroad, for selflessly performing their mission every single day and for being a Marine.  We salute you and your work, today and every day.

Happy 237th birthday, Marines!  Semper Fi!

- HRC

* * *

The Marine Ball is a party, so there was plenty of time for fun after the formal program concluded. We shared a fine dinner, posed for photos with the Marines, and then danced until well past midnight. As usual, the Marines thoroughly enjoyed themselves and mugged a bit for the camera (see below).

All in all it was a great evening. More than two centuries of service and sacrifice was honored. An iconic partnership was celebrated. Appreciation was shown. Tales were told. Cake was eaten. Rugs were cut. (If you’re under about 35 years old, google that last one.) And a good time appeared to be had by all.  Semper Fi.

This installment in my series of insider guides to great places to visit in the United States focuses on the great State of Arkansas, which sits along the mighty Mississippi River just north of Louisiana. Our tour guide today is my colleague Dana Deree, a proud Arkansawyer and head of consular operations at our Consulate General in Auckland.

* * *

BE AN ARKANSAS TRAVELER by Dana Deree

One of the duties of consular officers is conducting visa interviews of folks who would like  to visit the U.S. for vacation, business, education, or cultural exchanges. Over the course of my career I’ve talked at length with people from all walks of life about their travel plans. Time after time, people tell me they are headed to L.A., Las Vegas, New York, and a few other well known destinations. Now, don’t get me wrong, those are great places to visit, but they aren’t the whole story. I’m fixing to tell y’all a little bit about another option, my beautiful, friendly, fascinating home State of Arkansas.

Feeling at peace over Whitaker Point.

Along Kings River in the Ozarks.

Deep in netherworld of Blanchard Springs Caverns.

Known as “The Natural State,” Arkansas is famous for its great natural beauty, abundance of easily seen wildlife, and diverse geography, ranging from the breathtaking Ozark and Ouachita Mountains, to thick pristine forests, to the eastern lowlands along the Mississippi River and Arkansas Delta, home of some of the world’s most productive farm land.

continue reading…

Earlier this week Secretary Clinton delivered an important address at the US Institute of Peace on the expansive, nuanced, and special relationship between the US and China. The Secretary spoke as part of an all-day conference marking the 40^th anniversary of President Richard Nixon’s historic trip to Beijing in 1972. President Nixon often referred to the visit as “the week that changed the world,” and historians agree that it constituted one of the most significant events in the diplomatic history of either country.

In addition to the Secretary, the conference featured former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, former US National Security Advisors Brent Scowcroft and Zbigniew Brzezinski, and an opening keynote address by PRC Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi via video link from Beijing. Moderators included noted American journalists Tom Brokaw, Margaret Warner, and David Ignatius and academics Dr Fred Bergsten, Dr David Lampton, and Mike Chinoy. The audience included members of Congress, students, the Nixon family, and representatives of the Washington diplomatic corps.

Secretary Clinton reviewed the impact of President Nixon’s trip on US-China relations over the past 40 years, discussed the numerous and deep ways in which the two countries engage, and shared her views on the future direction of the relationship. As usual, she brought keen insight, good humor, and refreshing candor to a topic that is too often framed in cartoonish terms.

She noted the more than six decades of immense American investment in regional stability, security, and development that helped create the conditions for economic growth in East Asia. She dealt head-on with the fallacies of containment and selective stakeholding. And she made the compelling case for rules-based global engagement, transparent decision-making, and univeral human rights.

Exerpting portions of the Secretary’s remarks would necessarily distort her message. If you are interested in the topic, I would urge you to read her speech in its entirety here or watch it above.